Family and Community Connections Traditionally, First Nations, Inuit and Metis parents were responsible for the spirit of the child. Children were loved unconditionally. Everyone in the community shared responsibility for teaching and watching over the children in the community. Children were parented in a healthy and respectful way. They developed strong connections to their family and community. They knew who they were and where they belonged in society. How we live together as a family and community has changed over time. Families may have moved away from their traditional lands, but keeping connected to family and community is important because it helps children learn about their identity and develop a strong sense of belonging. When children know who they are and feel like they belong, they see value in life and can cope with strong emotions.
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Connect to family Today, there are many different types of families, large and small. There are single-parent and two-parent families, blended families, foster families, and families that include several generations. Parents may be biological or adoptive, extended relatives, step-parents, young or elderly, and single or married. They may be gay, bisexual, two-spirit, transgender, queer or straight. Each family is different, and each child has different needs within the family. Families provide a strong circle of support for you and your children. Think about what you can do to connect your children to their family. Here are some suggestions: •• Show your children pictures of family and tell them stories about their close and distant family members. •• Attend or have family meals or events that include your children’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, adult siblings or other relatives or close friends of your family. •• If in-person events cannot happen, set a regular time when you and your children can call, Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime with relatives. If you do not have phone or internet services, use this time to mail a letter, a drawing, or a photo to them, from your children.
